Chocolate Orange Swirl Bread

Ingredients

For the dough

• 120g (4 oz) unsalted butter, softened, plus extra for greasing
• 150g (5½ oz) caster sugar
• 1½ oranges, finely grated zest only
• 4 green cardamom pods, seeds only, ground
• 1½ tsp salt flakes, ground
• 330ml (11 fl oz) full-fat milk, at room temperature
• 90g (3¼ oz) 0%-fat Greek strained yoghurt
• 700g/1lb (9 oz) strong white flour, plus extra for dusting
• 12g (⅓ oz) fast-action yeast

For the filling

• 115g (4 oz) dark chocolate (80% cocoa solids), roughly chopped
• 75g (2½ oz) ground almonds
• 75g (2½ oz) flaked almonds
• ¾ tsp cocoa powder
• ⅔ bird’s-eye chilli, finely chopped and seeds removed
• ¾ tsp ground ginger
• ¾ tsp ground cinnamon
• large pinch freshly grated nutmeg

To finish

• 1 free-range egg, lightly beaten
• 1 tbsp cacao nibs

Instructions

1. 1
   For the dough, in the bowl of a freestanding mixer cream the butter, sugar, orange zest, cardamom and salt until pale and fluffy.
2. 2
   Mix the milk and yoghurt together, then warm until it reaches body temperature or 98.7F if using a food thermometer. In a separate bowl, mix the flour with the yeast. Slowly mix the milk mixture into the butter mixture. If it curdles, add a little of the flour mixture, then go back to adding the milk.
3. 3
   Change the attachment on the mixer to a dough hook, then tip the flour on top of the wet ingredients and knead on a low speed until combined. Increase the speed to medium and knead for 10 minutes.
4. 4
   Transfer the dough to a large greased bowl and cover with cling film. Leave to prove in a warm place for 45 minutes.
5. 5
   For the filling, in a food processor combine the chocolate, both kinds of almonds, cocoa powder, chilli and spices. Pulse until it forms the consistency of breadcrumbs.
6. 6
   Grease a 12x8x2½in baking tray and line with greased baking parchment.
7. 7
   Flour the work surface and tip the dough out onto it. Cut away a third of the dough and set aside. Stretch the remaining dough into a rectangle approximately 16x8in.
8. 8
   Cover the dough with two-thirds of the filling mixture, leaving a ½in gap at the long edge closest to you. Tightly roll up the dough starting with the long edge which is farthest away from you. Use the ½in strip (that is not covered with filling) to seal the join. Cut the roll into twelve 1¼in-thick slices and place on the prepared tray.
9. 9
   Stretch out the remaining dough into a 4x12in rectangle. Cover with the remaining filling, leaving a ½in gap at the long edge closest to you. Cut into six 1½in thick slices and use them to fill the gaps between the larger rolls. Place in a warm place to prove for a further 20 minutes.
10. 10
    Preheat the oven to 350F.
11. 11
    To finish, brush the top of the buns with beaten egg and sprinkle with cocoa nibs. Bake in the middle of the oven for 30-40 minutes.
12. 12
    Remove from the baking tray and set aside to cool on a wire rack.